Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'poorly'

English Word: poorly

Key Russian Translations:

• плохо [ˈploxə] - [Informal, Everyday use]

Frequency: High (commonly used in daily Russian conversations)

Difficulty: A1 (Beginner; straightforward for new learners of Russian)

Pronunciation (Russian):

плохо: [ˈploxə]

Note on плохо: The stress is on the first syllable; the 'o' in the second syllable is reduced in fast speech, sounding like [ˈplɐxə]. Pay attention to the soft 'л' sound.

Audio: Play Pronunciation [Insert audio player or link here]

Meanings and Usage:

In a poor or unsatisfactory manner (e.g., describing performance or quality)

Translation(s) & Context:

• плохо - Used in informal contexts to indicate something is done badly or ineffectively, such as in everyday conversations or casual writing.

Usage Examples:

• Он играет в футбол плохо.

  He plays football poorly. (This example shows the adverb in a simple sentence describing skill level.)

• Она спела песню плохо на концерте.

  She sang the song poorly at the concert. (Illustrates use in a performance context, emphasizing poor execution.)

• Машину он водит плохо в дождь.

  He drives the car poorly in the rain. (Demonstrates usage with conditional scenarios, highlighting situational inadequacy.)

• Плохо подготовленный доклад не impressed аудиторию.

  A poorly prepared presentation did not impress the audience. (Shows integration into a more formal context, though still informal in tone.)

• Дети рисуют плохо, но с энтузиазмом.

  The children draw poorly, but with enthusiasm. (Contrasts poor quality with positive attributes, adding nuance to usage.)

As in feeling unwell (e.g., 'feeling poorly')

Translation(s) & Context:

• плохо (or more specifically, in phrases like "плохо себя чувствовать") - Used to describe a state of illness or discomfort in casual health-related discussions.

Usage Examples:

• Я чувствую себя плохо сегодня.

  I feel poorly today. (Basic example in a health context.)

• После еды он почувствовал себя плохо.

  After eating, he felt poorly. (Shows temporal usage with cause-and-effect.)

• Она выглядит плохо, возможно, простудилась.

  She looks poorly; she might have caught a cold. (Integrates with descriptive language.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

плохо is an adverb in Russian and does not undergo inflection for case, gender, number, or tense. It remains unchanged in all contexts, making it straightforward for learners. For example:

• In sentences: "Он работает плохо" (He works poorly) – no changes to "плохо".
• Note: If used in idiomatic expressions, it may appear in fixed phrases without alteration.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: слабо (weakly; often for physical weakness), неудачно (unsuccessfully; with a connotation of failure), неумело (clumsily; emphasizing lack of skill)
• Antonyms: хорошо (well; direct opposite for general poor performance), отлично (excellently; for superior quality)

Related Phrases:

• Плохо себя чувствовать - To feel poorly (used for describing illness or discomfort).
• Сделать что-то плохо - To do something poorly (common in evaluative contexts).
• Плохо подготовленный - Poorly prepared (as in a task or event).

Usage Notes:

плохо directly corresponds to the English adverb "poorly" in most contexts, but it's more versatile in Russian for everyday expressions. It's typically informal, so in formal writing or speech, consider alternatives like "неудовлетворительно" for precision. When translating "feeling poorly," pair it with "себя чувствовать" for natural phrasing. Be mindful of context: in health scenarios, it implies mild illness, while in performance, it denotes inadequacy. If multiple translations exist, choose based on nuance—e.g., use "слабо" for physical weakness.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "плохо" interchangeably with "бедно" (which means "poorly" as in financially). Correct: "плохо" for quality, "бедно" for poverty. Example of error: "Он живёт плохо" meaning "He lives poorly (in quality)" vs. correct for financial: "Он живёт бедно".

• Error: Neglecting stress in pronunciation, saying [ploxə] instead of [ˈploxə], which can alter meaning. Correct: Practice with audio to emphasize the first syllable.

• Error: Overusing in formal contexts. Correct: In business Russian, say "работа выполнена неудовлетворительно" instead of "работа сделана плохо".

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, expressions like "плохо" are often used in self-deprecating humor or casual complaints, reflecting a cultural tendency to downplay achievements or health issues. This can stem from modesty in social interactions, so learners should note that it's common in everyday Russian to use such words lightly without implying severe criticism.

Related Concepts:

• хорошо (well)
• отлично (excellently)
• неудача (failure)
• болезнь (illness)